Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 104127 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104127 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
Closing my eyes, I run through memories in my head. Images flash in my mind.
Then it hits me. My eyes snap open. “Yes.”
“Yes, you know him?” Gideon takes the picture back and points to the older man.
“Well, no. But I swear I’ve seen him…”
“It’s important.”
I furrow my brow, and another memory pops up in my mind. The image is clear as day.
“What is it?” Gideon asks.
“I think he knew my parents. It’s strange, and I’m not sure if it’s real, but I remember him. He was yelling at my dad.”
“Do you know what he was saying?”
I shake my head. “I saw him outside our apartment building on the street. No one knew I was watching, but I couldn’t make out what he was saying because it was in another language. Who is he, Gideon?”
His fingers grip the picture tighter. “That’s Dima Markov.”
“Should that name mean anything to me?”
Gideon’s shoulders tense, but then he exhales. “He’s a Russian mob boss out of Brighton Beach.”
“Fuck.”
“Yeah.” The air grows stagnant, and I wonder if this is where the conversation ends, but then Gideon sighs. He’s not done with the inquisition. “Did Roman ever give you money?”
I laugh. “You’re kidding, right?” When I look back up at Gideon’s face, I expect him to be smirking at me, but instead, I’m met with a tight jaw and a face like stone.
“No.”
“All Roman ever did was take from me.” I go to move away from him, but he pulls me closer, placing a kiss on my head. I let out a deep breath. “The only thing I ever received from him is my cello. The fact that he ever had enough money to buy that is a modern miracle. Roman bled me dry. Not just financially, but emotionally. Why the questions this morning?”
He takes a deep breath, and I know whatever he’s about to say is going to rock my world.
“The Russian mafia is after you because they believe Roman stole a lot of money from them.”
Holy. Shit.
I know little about mob life, but from what I do know, they’re possibly the worst. Cruel. Violent.
“That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.” I sigh. “Can you—I don’t know, can you speak to the Russians and tell them?”
His body tightens beside me. “Yeah, that’s not going to happen.”
“Why?”
“In this business, well, it’s not like in corporate America. It isn’t possible. I’ll talk to some of my associates, and maybe we can figure out a way to explain the situation, but really, the only way out of this…”
His words trail off, and a cold dread seeps in.
“Is death.”
He nods.
“I don’t want anyone dying for me. It’s bad enough Roman died over something that isn’t true. More than that, it’s absurd.” I reach my hand up and run my fingers through my hair, trying to think. “Call Matt.”
Gideon pushes me down and entraps me with his arms. “Matt,” he growls. “You want me to call Matt?”
“He’s a police officer. He can help.”
He laughs, but it lacks humor. “I know who the fuck Matt is.”
“He’s just a friend, Gideon. I’ve known him for a long time. He’ll help me.”
“Like hell he will,” he seethes.
“You need to calm down,” I say, trying to stuff down the impatience and frustration.
“Calm down? Fuck no. You’re mine, firefly. Mine to protect. Mine to care for. Mine to love. If he ever gets near you again, if he ever touches you, I will kill him.”
My breath hitches, and the world stops spinning for me.
“Say that again.”
“I will kill him.”
I reach my hand out and touch his jaw. “Not that part.”
“If he touches you?” It’s said like a question.
I shake my head. “Not that part either.”
His eyebrows meet in the middle of his forehead. “What part, then?”
I take a deep breath. “The part where you said I’m yours to love. Do you love me, Gideon?”
He gives me a look like I’m an idiot.
“Fuck yes, I do. What the hell do you think we’re doing here? If I didn’t love you, do you think I’d be going to war with the Russians?”
My stomach bottoms out, falling to my feet. “War with the Russian mob. Are you crazy?”
“Crazy barely touches the surface.” He huffs. “I will kill them all for wanting to hurt you, and I will kill the damn cop for even looking at you.”
“You can’t act like this, Gideon.”
“This is me, firefly. I won’t ever change. You’re mine, and nobody touches what belongs to me. No one tries to take you from me or hurt you. I will kill anyone who does.”
I groan, frustration winning out. “I don’t belong to anyone.”
“Wrong.” He kisses me savagely.
I love the feeling.
A part of me wonders if I can deal with this part of him. His blood lust. His possession. But then I realize I love this part of him. I love every part of him, even the crazy. Nothing he could ever do would make me turn my back on him.